Heel-trimming machine



(No ModeL) v.2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. H. LANGILL.

HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE.

No. 543,491. Patented July 30, 1895.

FLL?. lzwezo?? M JW (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0.11. LANGILL.

HEEL TRMMING MACHINE. No, 543,491. Patented'July 3-0, 1895. 'Y

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. LANGILL, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEEL-,TRIMMING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,491, dated July 30, 1895. Application filed May 8. 1839. Serial No. 310,053. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concer-n.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. LANGILL, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Everett, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel-Trimming Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to that class of machines which are employed for trimming the edge-faces of the heels of boots and shoes, the object of the invention being a machine for said purpose which may be readily and easily operated and one in which the parts are adjustable in such a manner as to adapt the machine for trimming heels having a variety of shapes.

Myinvention consists essentiallyin a heeltrimming machine provided with a cutterhead having one or more knives or cuttingsurfaces which meet at and extend radially from the axis about which the cutter revolves, and with a support for the heel pivoted on a line extending at or near the cutter through its axis and adapted to move in a horizontal plane or in substantially the same plane as that assumed by the axis of the cutter, the invention further consisting in the construction and combinations of devices for holding the boot or shoe and presenting the heel thereof in a suitable manner to said cutter, together with devices for adjustment, as hereinafter set forth and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, two sheets, Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, of so much of a machine embodying my invention as is sufficient for illustration of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the devices shown in Figs. l and 2 reversed. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of certain parts, taken on line 1 l in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line'2 2 in Fig. l, also showing parts below that line. Figs. 6 and 7 are to further illustrate the positions which the heel may take with reference to the cutter. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the pin I and parts of ceri tain other details.

The cutter A is formed of the head a and preferably two knives b, each of the knives being set in the head fastened on surfaces therein and made adjustable by means of screws c. The head and knife-edges are of such shape that they conform to, or nearly to, the edge-face of the trimmed heel, one at least, preferably both, of the knife edges meeting and extending from the center or axis, as illustrated, so that the center or axis of the cutter is at, or nearly at, the deepest part of the recess in the edge-face of the heel. When said deepest part is at a distance above the bottom of the heel, as is generally the case, the cutter cuts at the same time on both sides of its axis. The shaft on which the cutter is ixed may be driven by means of the pulley B, and is in bearings cZ,which may be adjustable on the frame of the machine. This shaft is preferablyA horizontal, and the position of certain other parts of the machine will be herein accordingly defined.

Fixed to the frame of the machine or brackets C, secured rigidly thereto, are ways D, on which may slide and be secured by means of screws e a plate or base E. Two standards f project from this plate or base, one at each endthereof. A plate F has ears g, one at each end thereof. Each of these ears is pivf oted to one of said standards by means of a pivot h, and in such a manner that the plate F may swing, the line of pivoting being horizontal and at right angles to and preferably in the same plane with the axis of the cutter.

Parallel with said line of pivoting are Ways i fixed to the plate F. On these ways, to slide thereon in the direction of the length thereof and be guided thereby, is a block G. On this block is a plate H, which is pivoted with reference to the block in a peculiar manner, hereinafter described, and so as to movefin a plane parallel with the adjunct faces of block and plate H thereon. The block G has a vertical openingyI therein, the front walls of which are two planes k, which are inclined with reference to each other, so as to cause the front portion of said opening to have somewhat of a V shape. In the back part of the opening jis a transverse strap Z, which is pressed in a direction toward the front by means of springs m, the tension of which may be gaged by nuts n on bolts and guide-rods o. s

The vertical piece I constitutes the pivotpin, and is fixed at its upper end to the bot; tom of the plate H and at right angles thereto.

ICO

Parts of this pin may be cylindrical, asshown, while other parts present curves of such character that these approximate planes which are inclined with reference to each other. Thus this pin in part forms a cam, somewhat V- shaped, which may act against the inclined sides or planes 7c, as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth, being pressed thereto by the springs on and strap Z, which strap presses on the cylindrical part ofthe pin I. A portion of the V-shaped part of the pin I is cut away, leaving a surface at p nearlyor quite cylindrical. Against this surface may bear the end of a slide J, which end is preferablyA concave to partly surround the pin, as shown. The slide J is guided in an opening in the block G, so as to be moved in a plane substantially parallel with the upper surface of this block and be held in the desired position by means of.' a thumb-scrcw K. The slide J may enter the openingj so far as to move back the pin I sufficiently to prevent the inclined sides or cam of the pin from coming in contact with the sides or planes 7c, so that the plate 1I, when swung, will have a circular movement simply. The slide .I may, however, be moved to allow the cam of the pin to come more or less in contact with the planes 7c, and hence vary the movement of the plate Il more or less from a circular direction at the time and for the pur pose hereinafter specified.

To the plate Il is Xed-as by means of screws q-a support L for the boot or shoe, the heel-piece M of this support being adjustable on the support and secured thereon by means of serrated surfaces on support and heel-piece and by a screw r. Spurs s, fixed to the upturned part or iange t of the heelpiece, may enterthe breast of the heel,and thus aid in holding the boot or shoe in place. At each side of the support is pivoted at u a bail-shaped lever N, to which is pivoted, each side of the boot or shoe, at @,an endof a band O, which extends around the heel portion or counter of the boot or shoe. rlhe places of pivoting the band to the lever may be changed to accommodate different sizes of boots or shoes, there being notches in the band to receive the pivots, as shown. The lever has a weight P at its outer end, which will act to keep the band 0 pressed against theboot or shoe, and hence the same in place cn its support. y

Two pieces Q and lt, each having a vertical groove of a suitable shape to form the required cam, are pivoted to the plate H at opposite sides, the one Q at w and the other R at These cams are alike one to the other, except they are the reverse in direction and action. On studs fixed to plate Fand vertical with reference thereto are two rollers, the one a to move in the groove of the cam Q and the other b to movein the groove of the cam R. Each of these cams is adjustable so thatthe two may takelike positions with reference to the plate l-l, being swung in like manner outward or inward on the pivots 'w and 0c, by

Il as one `piece therewith, are pivoted two cams, the one T at f and the other U at t', the exterior edge faces forming the camsurfaces. These cams are caused to swing inwardl y or outwardly on their pivots by means of a slide V, having pins which enter slots h' in the cams, and a slot i', in which are screws which screw into the plate Il", the one j be; ing a thumb-screw for the ready securing of the slide V and the cams T and U in the desired positions. These cams act against the vertical surface or bearing 7s fixed to the frame of the machine. A projection Z from the plate 1I may bear against the front edge face of a slide m', which may be moved on the frame of the machine and be secured in the desired position by means of a screw n.

There is a pin o', which lits in the block G to slide up and down therein at about midway thereof, being pressed upward by a spring. When the plate II is swung over the upper end of this pin it presses the pin downward, so that the pin enters a hole in the plate F for the purpose of forming a lock to prevent the block G from being slid on the plate II.

The boot or shoe, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l) having been clamped on the sup'- port L by means of the band O and the lever N, so that the sole is pressed firmly on the support and the breast of the heel is toward the iiange t and against the spurs s, the operation of the devices may be described as follows: While it would be most expeditious to trim the heel 'by commencing at the edge formed by one side and the breast, we will suppose that the trimming commences when the boot or shoe is in the position indicated in the drawings--tliat is, at the middle of thc rear of the heel. The first movement will be to swing the toe 'of the boot or shoe, for instance, to the right, the plate II swinging on the block G, the pivot-pin I revolving in the openingj. The nature of the first part of this movement will depend upon the distance which the slide .I has been entered and secured in the openingj, since'the cam of. the pin I will meet the appropriate side or plano 7c or not, or will meet and bear thereon for a greater orless time duringthe swinging ot the boot orshoe, according to such position of the slide J. If the cam of the pin I does not touch the plane 7c, then the direction of this swinging movement may be simply that of a circle,and hence the side ot' the rearportion of the heel will be made circular; but if this cam moves more or less against the plane 7a then that part of the heel will be proportionally flattened. If the cam of the pin I bears on the IOO IIO

plane Zov at the inception of this swinging motion and the like happens when the boot or shoe is also swung in the other direction (to the left) there will be a lvertical ridge formed at the center of the rear of the heel, thus making that which is known as the Gothic heel. After the boot or shoe has been swung sufficiently to have the cutter begin to act on the side of the heel then the pi'n o springs up, so as to allow the block G to .slide on the ways t', and so that the roller a may enter the groove of the cam Q. The boot or shoe is then pressed toward the left, so that the block G slides on the ways i and the roller al moves in the cam Q. According to the position of this cam there may be more or less of a slight swinging of the boot or shoe, in the same direction as heretofore, while being moved in the general direction of its lengthtoward the left. Thus the side of the heel will be trimmed, and in such a manner as to make the breast of the heel of a width according to the degree of the swinging movement caused by the cam Q. The boot or shoe having been by reverse movementsreturned to the starting position shown in the drawings, the other half of the heel is trimmed in like manner by swinging the boot or shoe to the` left and sliding the same to the right. Pressure against the plate F to swing this plate and devices thereon on the pivots h will act to cause the projection Z to press against the slide m,'or will act to cause the cams T or U to press against the surface Zt. Thus the distance which the heel is moved toward the cutter is determined-that is, the depth of the cutting-and hence the size of the heel is gaged.

A slight rolling movement of the heel on the cutter may also be permitted and the character of such rolling movement determined by means of the projection Z and cams Tand U. If the slide m and these cams are so set that the sole of the boot or shoe is inclined the cutting will be proportionally deeper at the upper or lower part of the heel, as illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7. According to the time that the projection Z bears on the slide m before either of the cams T and U bears on the surface 7c will be the extent to which the upper` part of the heel is cut vof the Gothic shape 'when a Gothic heel is to be formed. By suitably setting the slide and cams so that the projection Z does not move on the slide at all, but as soon as one of the cams leaves the surface- Za the other of these cams meets this surface, then the upper part of the heel may be lnade curved,whether the lower part is Gothic or otherwise. In like mahnerthe lower part maybe curved, whether the upper part is Gothic or not.

Thus it appears that I am able not only to trim the heel readily and easily, since the shape is determined automatically, but also that a greatvariety of shapes may be given to the heelby suitable but simple adjustments, thus dispensing with that great number of plates or formers heretofore required, one of which must be removed from and another iixed in the machine for every change of form of heel. These and other advantages arise from the fact that the cutter is so located with reference to its axis that the heel is trimmed by thrusting the same against the cutter in the general direction of the length of its axis, in distinction from a cutter so ixed with reference to its axis that the heel is thrust in a general direction at right angles to said axis, which has heretofore been the practice.

I claim as my inventionl. In a heel trimming machine, the combination with a cutterhead provided with knives which meet at and extend radially from the axis about which the cutter revolves, of a support for the heel pivoted on a line which extends at or near said cutter through the axis thereof and adapted to. move in a horizontal plane, substantially as described.

2. In a heel trimming machine, the combination with a center head mounted on the end of a shaft and having cutters meeting at and extending substantially radial to the shaft, of a pivoted support for the heel pivoted to move in a horizontal plane, and mounted to move in a vertical plane to bring the heel in incline position with relation to the cutter, substantially as described.

3. In a heel trimming machine, the combination of a rotary cutter, a plate F pivoted at right angles to the axis of the cutter and a supportL pivotally supported upon the plate F, substantially as described.

4. In a heel trimming machine, the combination of a rotary cutter, a support pivoted at right angles to the axis of said cutter, two cam faces, means for moving them inwardly and outwardly, and connections intermediate of cams and the support, substantially as described.

5. In a heel-trimming machine, the combination of a plate F pivoted at right-angles to the axis of the cutter and provided with ways parallel with line of pivoting, a block G to slide onsaid ways, and a support for a boot or shoe pivoted to said block, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a heel-trimming machine the combination of a block G, a support L for a boot or shoe pivoted to said block by means of a pin having inclined or cam likeparts-the openingj for the pivot-pin having inclined walls lc against which the cam of the pivot-pin acts,-and a strap Z to press the pivot-pin against said walls, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a heel trimming machine, the combination of a block G, a support L pivoted to said block, a pivot-pin forming a cam, an opening for the pivot-pin provided with inclined walls, a strap Z pressed against the pivot-pin, and an adjustable slide J, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.l

8. In a heel-trimming machine the combination with a support on which the sole of IOO IIO

the boot or shoe is placed, of a band to surround the counter, and a lever N, said band and lever beiner adjustable with reference to each other, and pivoted t0 each other and said support, substantially as specified.

9. In a heel-trimming machine, the combination with a support-on which the heel of the boot or shoe bears-provided with an adjustable heel-plate having,r a tianget and a spur s, of a band O and lever for pressing` the band against the heel, substantially as set forth.

10. In a heel-trimming machine the combi nation of a support-on which the sole ot the boot' or shoe bearshprovided with an adjustable heel-plate, a band to encompass the counter, and a lever to tighten said band against the counter, said lever and band being piv oted to each other and said support, substantially as specified.

11. In a heel trimming machine, the combination with a cutter head provided with cutters which meet at and extend radially from the axis about which the cutter revolves, of a support for the heel pivoted on a line which extends at or near the end of said cutter through the axis thereof, and clamping devices on the support for holding the Work thereon, substantially as described.

l2. In a heel trimming machine, the combination witha cutter head provided with cutters which meet at and extend radially from the axis about which the cutter revolves, of a rotatable support for the heel pivoted on a line which extends at or near the end of said cutter through the axis thereof, and means for controlling the movement of the supports toward and away from the cutter, substan tialiy as described.

13. In a heel trimming machine, the combination with a cutter head provided with cutters which meet atwand extend radially from the axis about which the cutter revolves, of a rotatable support for the heel pivoted ou a line which extends at or near the end of said cutter through the axis thereof, of a pattern device adjacent to the su pport, and means intermediate of the pattern device and support for moving the support toward and away from the cutter as the support is rotated, substantially as described.

CHARLES II. LANGILL.

Witnesses:

W. C. MEYER, EDW. DUMMER. 

